Dublin city braeak, tips and advice

holidaysforme

lazer wrote: »

Try the ripley court hotel, its basically beside the train station, so very handy, and just a short walk from O'Connell street - it is very central and very friendly.

I though it was a great hotel - and we got bargain - think we stayed one night, and it was only about €50.

O'Sheas is on the same street, I have never stayed in it, but it has a good reputation for somewhere clean and comfortable to sleep (But it is also a bar so may be noisy - not sure)

Dublin is a lovely city and with the Euro crashing, it is slowly getting cheaper for UK visitors.

If you are there during the All-Ireland championship season and get a chance, you could go to a game in Croke Park, atmosphere is great (depending on the game - if its quarter final onwards, they are brilliant, before that depends who is playing really.)

Thanks, very useful. Looking for somewhere to stay in August. Given me a few ideas.

SaveTheEuro

Boba_Fett wrote: »

hi all

i want to book a weekend city break to dublin, any tips, advice on where to stay and go, restaurants, hotels??

not budget or 5 star somewhere in the middle.

thanks in advance

Here are a few tips on things which are free or at least won't break the bank:

St Stephen's Green is a beautiful little park at the southern end of the main shopping street, Grafton St.
The Prime Minister's office and the home of the President are open to the public on Saturdays. Entrance is free. The President's home is in Phoenix Park, which is huge.
Watch out for bars with live traditional music. If you're lucky you'll also come across an inthralling storyteller in a pub. I've heard ones make a good joke last 20 minutes.
The General Post Office on O'Connell St is the home of the Easter Rising. Walk in and breathe the history.
Nearby is Eason's, one of many bookshops. It's a favourite of rural exiles who pop in to buy the weekly paper from back home.
And around the corner is Moore Street, with its traditional street market and loud and colourful hawkers.
Street sculptures are dotted about. The locals have fun with the names. Molly Malone is known as "the tart with the cart."
Theatre in Dublin is superb, and far cheaper than London, but book ahead. There are excellent concert venues too.
The DART train service runs along the coast. It costs only a few euros and the views are excellent.

Dublin is a place of great character and charm. Have fun.

Norman-B

Mr_Wang wrote: »

Look Norm you are going to give yourself cataracts. Relax a little and embrace the fact Dublin is overrated. I note you couldn't find anywhere more over rated and that's fine, I expected it because there is no where else.

I am (as others are) simply pointing out that the only decent thing in Dublin is the airport since it is your port out of there.
This is an MSE site, and Dublin is perhaps the most un-MSE city in this part of the world.

It's not a personal insult - Simply an opinion. I really don't know how I can be any clearer than that.

Oh dear! Are you really unable to understand that the OP asked for advice/tips on his proposed visit to Dublin? He did NOT ask if it was good/bad. He just wanted some advice. Simple really, try to understand.

As for the fact that a city is over rated, I need to correct you, that is just your opinion.

Norman-B

SaveTheEuro, that is what the OP asked for!

Mr_Wang

Norman-B wrote: »

Oh dear! Are you really unable to understand that the OP asked for advice/tips on his proposed visit to Dublin? He did NOT ask if it was good/bad. He just wanted some advice. Simple really, try to understand.

As for the fact that a city is over rated, I need to correct you, that is just your opinion.

Then tell me another city more overrated than Dublin?

lazer

Mr_Wang wrote: »

Then tell me another city more overrated than Dublin?

London

It is more expensive than Dublin (IMO) and no where near as friendly.

Dublin you can get a hotel in central Dublin relatively cheaply (Around £60 a night for 2 should be easy enough), which usually includes a massive Irish Breakfast, and you don't need to spend a fortune on transport to get anywhere as its a small enough city to use your feet!

If you stay away from Temple Bar dublin isn't that expensive.

If i was given a choice between a weekend in London and a weekend in Dublin, I would choose Dublin everytime.

London to me, is a horrible city, where everyone is in a rush, and you have to get overcrowed trains which are always delayed to get anywhere, and is full of large chains for hotels, shops etc.

[Deleted User]

right, well I worked in Dublin for 6 months about 5 years ago.. so here's some 'where to eat' recommendations

Best steak i've had in my life: Shanahan's on the Green
Biggest Meal: Captain Americas
Best Hotel: Conrad Hilton
Also runner for nicest restaurant: http://www.mansionhouse.ie/fire.aspx

The pubs are good, the Guinness factory tour is a must, the shopping is pretty good. It's very busy, very expensive but so are most major cities.

I'd disagree with London - it's so massive there's always something to do, especially with the many free museums. There's no where else like covent garden either

lazer

ringo_24601 wrote: »

right, well I worked in Dublin for 6 months about 5 years ago.. so here's some 'where to eat' recommendations

Best steak i've had in my life: Shanahan's on the Green
Biggest Meal: Captain Americas
Best Hotel: Conrad Hilton
Also runner for nicest restaurant: http://www.mansionhouse.ie/fire.aspx

The pubs are good, the Guinness factory tour is a must, the shopping is pretty good. It's very busy, very expensive but so are most major cities.

I'd disagree with London - it's so massive there's always something to do, especially with the many free museums. There's no where else like covent garden either

Each to their own, The free Museums don't really interest me, on holidays I do tend to go to one museum (and its nearly always free!)

OP - the things i'd recommend in Dublin:
If your are going to do a tour of the city - do the viking bus splash tour (Road & water, and they give you water pistols to squirt at the other bus tours in the city - its great, childish but great)
There is a converted Church that is now a restaurant, and it is really lovely (But think it is expensive, we had a 2 for 1 deal when we went)
I find Dublin to be a kind of city where you can just walk around it and find things to do as you come accross them, Dublin Castle, Trinity, St Stephens Green.

If you are just looking for a cheap meal somewhere, try Cafe Kylemore (If its still open) for lunch, breakfast (it used to have a 5 peice fry and tea for under €5 I think!)

If you feel like going outside of Dublin to try more rural parts of Ireland - try the Wicklow Mountains, or Co Meath - Newgrange Monumnet & Hill of Tara.

Enjoy your break!

Doshwaster

Mr_Wang wrote: »

Then tell me another city more overrated than Dublin?

Paris!

Dirty, unfriendly natives and it's hard to find a decent pint

I used to go to Dublin a lot in the mid 90s (back in the days of those 1p Ryanair flights) and always had a good time but recently it's got too expensive for its own good. Now, I'd much rather go to Belfast or Cork for an Irish drinking weekend.

lazer

Doshwaster wrote: »

Paris!

Dirty, unfriendly natives and it's hard to find a decent pint

I used to go to Dublin a lot in the mid 90s (back in the days of those 1p Ryanair flights) and always had a good time but recently it's got too expensive for its own good. Now, I'd much rather go to Belfast or Cork for an Irish drinking weekend.

I like Paris, I find its authentic, but i've only been once for a weekend and was young and in love so felt the Romantic vice from the city!